Writing Activities: Year 6

Humpback whale

Humpback whales are known for their songs, which travel for great distances through the world’s oceans. It is most likely that the humpbacks’ complex sounds are used to communicate with others and to attract potential mates. Humpback calves “whisper” to their mothers. They swim closely together, affectionately touching each other’s flippers. Females nurse their calves for almost a year. However, calves do not stop growing until they are ten years old.

In this clip, we will see how a humpback mother has travelled 2,500 miles from Alaska to Hawaii in order to raise her young.

Literacy Idea

Create a poster about Hawaii. You should aim it at humpback whale mothers, explaining how it is the ideal place to raise their young.

Your poster should include the following details:

• A description of the Pacific Ocean that surrounds Hawaii
• Why whales are willing to travel so far to come here
• Why calves are safer in these waters than they might be elsewhere
• Any benefits there are to raising calves here (for both calves and mothers)
• Reviews from other humpback whales

Wider Curriculum Idea

Using this information from nationalgeographic.com,* create a fact file about humpback whales.

*Please note that this is an advertising funded site